NEW BEDFORD — The sixth annual New Bedford Idol contest will feature 29 contestants, facing off vocally across an array of genres as they whittle down to a 2014 Idol.

"I really like the kids this year," said contest committee member Mary Ann daRosa.

"To me the biggest thing is that they came out and tried out."

More than 40 students auditioned for the competition. After two audition rounds and an elimination round, the group of 29 will kick off the first of five nights on April 5.

For the first time this year, singers voted on the theme for the night. The most votes came in for Disney music, which will be the theme of the first night.

Subsequent rounds will feature patriotic music, country, a Frank Sinatra/Diana Ross night, and the finale, where the final two singers get to sing whatever they choose.

During the first two nights, singers will only perform 2.5 minutes of each song, each commented on by the panel of judges. For the third and fourth nights, the remaining contestants will sing an entire song, and on the final night, the last two will each sing two songs.

"It's pretty cool," said Bruce Duarte Jr., founder of New Bedford Idol. "These young folks, they take the whole journey with us, pretty much from start to finish."

Duarte said the idea for Idol came about because of a lack of certain opportunities for city youth.

"We have basketball, we have football, we have the sports program, but not every child is into sports, so I thought let's give them something else," he said.

"What's great about this is all the kids are encouraged to participate."

Duarte said it's amazing to watch the singers' self-esteem grow with each performance.

"Their confidence goes through the roof," he said.

New Bedford Idol was inspired by the hit show "American Idol." Unlike that show, where the winners are chosen by viewers, New Bedford's Idol winner is chosen by a panel of judges. The panel will include former Tavares drummer and Berklee professor Jackie Santos, as well as Santos' wife Sherri and Jo-Jo Gomes. Guest judges will likely be asked to sit in and could include Jessica Cabral and former City Councilor Denis Lawrence Jr.

The winning singer will get recording time at Studio 81 in New Bedford, in addition to a three-day scholarship to attend a workshop at Berklee College of Music.